>> Tuesday, October 10, 2017

EDITORIAL

Despite monitoring by
the Dept. of Trade and Industry, illegal practices of some business
establishments like overpricing are still proliferating. Consumers are still
victims of deceptive and unfair acts and practices of some business
establishments

On occasion of
Consumer Month, the DTI is monitoring implementation of Republic Act No. 10909
or Shortchanging Act of 2016.

Under R.A 10909, all
business establishments including sari-sari stores and government-owned and
controlled corporations and government agencies performing proprietary
functions are mandated to give exact change to consumers.

The law
prohibits giving of other forms of change like candy in lieu of monetary change,
according to the DTI. The law’s implementing rules and regulations specify it is
the duty of business establishments to give the exact amount of change without
waiting for the consumer to ask for it.

Business
establishments found to have violated the provisions of the Act will face the
penalty ranging from P500 to P25,000 or three to ten percent of gross sales on
the day of violation, whichever is higher. Penalty for the third offense
includes the suspension of license to operate for three months and its
revocation for the fourth offense.

Agencies tasked
to help in effective implementation of the law include the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Local Government Units, and the Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.